THOUSANDS are expected to flock to a Hampshire town for a day of showstopping performances.

Parks, streets and venues across Eastleigh will come to life with drama, dance and art as Eastleigh Unwrapped festival returns this Saturday.

The festival, curated by The Point, will celebrate its fifth anniversary and will see streets filled with circus, theatre, interactive performances and live music.

This year for the first time residents will also have the opportunity to learn circus skills during free workshops and take part in a flash mob to open the event.

Vicki Hargreaves, festival director, said: “ We are ‘unwrapping’ Eastleigh town centre to the community and welcoming everyone with open harms.

“So far the community response has been extremely positive.”

The event will also feature a ticketed evening performance for the second year in a row as festival regulars Acrojou will present Vessel at The Point’s Dancing Garden stage. The show is a fusion of acrobatics and physical theatre performed inside a tiny, wooden boat with the effect of video projected onto water.

National and local artists will perform across the town centre throughout the day in a bid to wow and entertain residents with their shows.

The free event, funded by Arts Council England and Eastleigh Business Improvement District, will be run from 12pm to 5pm. Tickets for the evening show cost £5, call 023 8065 2333.